Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/503

 humility does  she  treat  the  sisters;  with  what  care  does she execute  the  directions  that  she  receives! Hence if they  reflected  that  God  was  looking  at  all  their  actions, all religious  would  do  all  things  well,  with  a  pure  intention, without  seeking  to  please  any  one  but  God,  and without any  regard  to  human  respect. St. Basil  says that were  a  person  to  find  himself  in  the  presence  of  a king  and  a  peasant,  his  sole  concern  would  be  to  please the king  without  any  regard  to  the  wishes  of  the  peasant. Thus he  that  walks  in  the  divine  presence  is  regardless of  the  pleasure  of  creatures,  and  seeks  only  to please  God,  who  sees  him  always.

III. Finally, as  to  the  third  effect  of  the  divine  presence, that  is,  to  unite  the  soul  to  God,  it  is  an  infallible rule that  love  is  always  increased  by  the  presence  of  the object loved. This happens  even  among  men,  although the more  they  converse  together,  the  more  their  defects are discovered. How much  more  shall  the  love  of  a soul  for  God  increase  if  it  keep  him  before  its  eyes! for the  more  it  converses  with  him,  the  better  it  comprehends his  beauty  and  amiableness. The morning and the  evening  meditation  are  not  sufficient  to  keep the soul  united  with  God. St. John  Chrysostom  says, that even  water,  if  removed  from  the  fire,  soon  returns to its  natural  temperature;  and  therefore  after  prayer it is  necessary  to  preserve  fervor  by  the  presence  of  God, and by  renewing  our  affections.

St. Bernard  says  of  himself,  that  in  the  beginning  of his  conversion,  when  he  found  himself  disturbed,  or  his fervor cooled,  peace  and  the  ardor  of  divine  love  were instantly restored  by  the  remembrance  of  a  deceased  or absent  saint. Now, how  much  greater  the  effect  which must be  produced  on  a  soul  that  loves  God,  by  remembering that  he  is  present,  and  that  he  is  asking  her  love